The Loyalists of Massachusetts and the Other Side of the American RevolutionStark, James Henry
History
The Loyalists of Massachusetts and the Other Side of the American Revolution
Stark, James Henry
American loyalists -- Massachusetts; Massachusetts -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783
The Assembly voted that he had rendered himself obnoxious to the people,
as an enemy, and immediately presented a petition for his removal.
Articles of impeachment for high crimes and misdemeanors were exhibited,
which Gov. Hutchinson refused to countenance. The grand jury at
Worcester on April 19th following, presented to the court a written
refusal to serve under the Chief Justice, considering it illegal for him
to preside until brought to answer to the above mentioned charges. He
became a refugee in 1775, and died at Birmingham, England, in October
1791, aged 79.[155] Of the five judges of the Superior Court of
Massachusetts at the commencement of the Revolution, four remained
loyal, viz., Peter Oliver, Edmund Trowbridge, Foster Hutchinson, and
William Browne. The Revolutionary member of the Court was William
Cushing. Judges at this time wore swords, ermine robes, etc., while on
the Bench.
[155] Curwin's Journal, p. 516.
DR. PETER OLIVER. Second son of Chief Justice Oliver, of Massachusetts,
graduated at Harvard University in 1761. He dwelt at Middleborough,
Plymouth County. He had practised in Scituate in early life, was one of
the eighteen country gentlemen who were driven into Boston and who were
Addressers of General Gage in 1775. He was proscribed and banished in
1778, and became a refugee in England, where he died at Shrewsbury, in
Sept. 1822, aged eighty-one.
DANIEL OLIVER, son of Chief Justice Oliver, a learned and accomplished
lawyer of Worcester County, graduated at Harvard College in 1762. A
refugee loyalist of the Revolution, he died at Ashted, Warwickshire, May
6, 1826, aged 82. His father was an antiquarian, and copied with his own
hand Hubbard's manuscript History of New England, which the son refused
the loan of to the Massachusetts Historical Society for publication in
their Collection.[156]
[156] Curwin's Journal, p. 510.
Sabine says that it was Doctor Oliver who refused to lend his copy or at
least to permit a transcript of such parts of it as were missing in the
American manuscript. In consequence, we have "Hubbard" mutilated at the
beginning, and at the end. At this time, 1814, when the Massachusetts
Historical Society with the aid of the Legislature desired to publish
that work, there was a very bitter feeling towards the United States on
account of the war at that time existing between the two countries.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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